With the beginning of 2025 and the inaugural BLAST Bounty, the professional CS2 scene has embraced a refreshed map pool, with Train making its highly anticipated return, replacing Vertigo. While the map has only appeared three times in official matches thus far, its debut has already sparked intense discussion.
In a key matchup between Falcons and ENCE, we got one of our first true glimpses at how Train plays in the modern meta. Falcons triumphed 16-12, showcasing their revamped roster led by Nikola "NiKo" Kovač. But beyond the scoreline, the match revealed critical insights into Train's current dynamics.
Focus on the A Bombsite
The go-to defensive setup for CTs appears to be a 1B/4A arrangement, reflecting the need to secure the A bombsite. A key factor in the CT side’s success is handling early T aggression, particularly towards A Main. Falcons excelled here, deploying a combination of utility and disciplined protocols. However, ENCE also appeared well-prepared at the start and found some nicely timed picks.
VAC#BLASTPremier @XKacpersky pic.twitter.com/QwOKGR6qFg
— BLAST Premier (@BLASTPremier) January 15, 2025
Double or even triple HE grenades into A Main then became a signature move for Falcons, effectively halting any fast T pushes and allowing them to keep opponents guessing. This approach also set the stage for later plays toward A Main or Popdog, masking their intentions and keeping ENCE on edge.
Vulnerabilities of the A Bombsite
The new-look A bombsite has emerged as a significant challenge for CTs. The lack of cover makes it difficult to hold against well-coordinated T-side executes, giving the attackers a noticeable advantage. Train currently feels heavily T-sided, as evidenced by the high success rates of T-side pushes in the early rounds.
To counteract this, some CT teams, also including Virtus Pro today, have begun smoking A Main directly from spawn. This tactic not only buys critical time but also conserves utility for mid-to-late round retakes, where it can be more impactful. However, it’s clear that CT teams are still experimenting with ways to mitigate the map’s current imbalance.
Dynamics of the B Bombsite and the Role of Utility
On the B site, the quieter nature of Brown Halls offers limited aggressive options for CTs. Risk-taking here is rare, but potentially game-changing. One common CT play involves throwing a stairs smoke in the B halls to give their sole B-defender more confidence and, occasionally, to enable a surprise push.
.@somedieyoungCS cleans up for the QUAD #BLASTPremier @ENCE pic.twitter.com/MZBqNT6GVD
— BLAST Premier (@BLASTPremier) January 15, 2025
Falcons demonstrated this strategy effectively, using the stairs smoke several times to stall ENCE, before launching an aggressive play that caught their opponents off guard.
Most teams thus far are focusing their manpower toward A Main and Popdog, leading to gaps elsewhere on the map. This tradeoff then creates opportunities for creative T-side strategies and highlights the challenges CTs face in maintaining balanced map control.
Potential Map Changes
It is a little too early to call on this matter. More matches will need to be played, and more data will need to be collected by Valve. Some enthusiasts however, including former player, now caster, Chad "SPUNJ" Burchill, have already come up with ideas to tweak the layout of the remade map:
IM GONNA SAY SOMETHING CRAZY. DON'T LOSE YOUR MINDS. JUST ENTERTAIN THE IDEA FROM A HYPOTHETICAL PERSPECTIVE AND DISCUSS THE PROS AND CONSWhat if.. we put T spawn on train somewhere in the vicinity of the monkey covering his eyes emoji?Ivy could get significantly more action.... pic.twitter.com/TtPqxhAfC0
— Chad Burchill (@SPUNJ) January 16, 2025
SPUNJ's idea is indeed a fascinating one, since the mentioned Ivy-area is yet to see the amount of action it has in CS:GO's Train version. Though, one would argue, that this was forced by the then more clustered and covered A site.
As with any map, Train will need time to evolve into a balanced and competitive staple. Teams are still figuring out the nuances, and Valve is likely to introduce changes before the BLAST.tv Austin Major in June. Until then, the community can only hope for improvements that address its current issues.
For now, Train’s debut has been entertaining, with Falcons’ victory offering a promising glimpse of what the map can become.
How do you like the new Train so far? What changes would you suggest?